Refrigerating apparatus



March 18, 1930. J. R. FEHR REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 1926 Patented Mar. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN RALPH FEHR, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

FRIGIDAIRE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application filed December 2, 1926. Serial No. 152,263.

This invention relates to cooling units for mechanical refrigerators, and more particularly to cooling units which are adapted to be installed inrefrigerating cabinets of the household type. However, it is to be under stood that the present invention may be adapted for larger refrigerating cabinets of the commercial type.

Thepresent invention includes among its objects the provision of a cooling unit of simple and economical construction which wlll quickly congeal or freeze substances which are placed within a freezing compartment provided by the unit, and which Wlll effectively cool the food compartment of the cablnet.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front View of a refrigerator cabinet with the doors open in order to show the food compartment and a cooling unit within a cooling compartment;

Fig. 2 is aview on a larger scale than Fig. 1, showing the front view of the cooling unit 39 which is suspended. within the cooling compartment of a cabinet, the walls of which are shown in vertical section; and

Fig. 3is a side elevation. of the cooling unit drawn to the same scale as Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 20 designates a refrigerator cabinet which provides an L- shaped food compartment 21 separated from a cooling compartment 22 by a horizontal partition 23 and a vertical partition 24. The

. partition 24-is provided with a flue 25, admitting relatively warm air from the food compartment 21 to the cooling compartment 22; and the partition 23 is provided with a flue 26,

5 admitting cooled air from the compartment tition 23, and this moisture is conducted away through a drain pipe 28.

The cooling unit located within the cooling compartment 22, includes a boiler or header attached to the top wall of the cabinet by bracket members 31 and'32. Condensed refrigerant is conducted to the header 30 from a compressor and condenser (not shown) through a pipe 33 anda fitting 34. Refrigerant is admitted from the fitting 34, as

needed, by a float-controlled valve (not shown), of suitable construction, located within the header 30. Exp'a' r fr gera t is conducted-back to the compressor "through a fitting 35 and a pipe 36. The refrigerating compressor and condenser with which the pipes 33and 36 are connected, may be located outside of the cabinet, if desired, or may be placed within a machine compartment located below the food compartment 21, said com- 7 partment having a removable front wall 37 provided with louvres 38.

The cooling unit includes also a plurality of ducts 40 and 41 connected at their upper ends to the header 30 and, at their lower ends, to a second header or manifold 42 arranged preferably vertically below the header 30. These ducts are arranged in horizontal rows, the rows of'ducts40 being in staggered relation to the rows of ducts 41 so that the outer ducts 40 will not overlie the inner ducts 41 and obstruct the free circulation of air into contact with the inner ducts 41 as the cooled air descends between the ducts 40. The staggered relation of ducts also permits frost to accumulate to a greater degree upon the ducts 41 before air circulation adjacent the outer ducts 40 is obstructed, than is possible if the rows of ducts were not in staggered relation. Also, the holes in the header for receiving the ends of the ducts may be staggered, so as to permit close spacing of these holes without unduly weakening the walls of the headers.

The headers 30 and 42 and the ducts 41 oooperate to enclose a quick-freezing space or .zone 43 within which metal trays 44 containing substances to be frozen may be laced within metal shelves or sleeves 45 attac ed to the ducts 41 and thermally connected therewith by brazing, soldering or the like.

In operation, the space 43 becomes much colder than other portions of the coolin chamber 22; because itis somewhat isolate from the warmer currents" of air circulating about the cooling unit due to the isolatin walls provided by the ducts and headers, an

, duealso' to a'wall of frost which willaccumu 4 late, to a greater degree uponthe ducts 41- and header 42 than upon theducts 40- which are exposed entirely to air currents. If desired, the ducts 40 may be provided with outwardly extendingvertical fins to increase the cooling action thereof upon the air passing thereover,

- and the ducts 40 and fins may be so propor- By using the lower header 42 a' rigid structure can be made, and the ducts may be made from short lengths of pipe, which might otherwise be discarded, while yet providing for free circulation of'the refrigerant from (header serves also as a su port upon which 7 and toward the upper header. The lower a substantial quantity of rost may accumulate further to isolate the freezing s ace 43.

While the form of embodiment oft epresent invention as-herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, itis to be understood that .ation comprising: a plurality of elongated other forms might be adopted, all coming. ,within the $00 e of the claims which follow.

What is clalmed as follows: 1. A cooling unit for mechanical'refrigerheaders one above the other, and a plurality of ducts connecting the headers, certain ducts which theductswhich are ad acent the freez ing space 'are'arranged in at least two verticooperating with the headers to enclose a, freezing space, and certain other ducts being located so as to be exposed substantially entirely to air circulating adjacent the cooling unit. 5 j

2. A cooling unit according to claim 1, in

cal rows on either side of the space between the headers.

3. A cooling unit according to claim 1, in

which the ducts are 'arrangedin: spa'ced, vertially entirely ticalrows, the inner'rows'cooperating with the'headers to enclose a freezing space, and the other rows located so as to be substanexposed'to air circulating adjacent the cooling unit.

' 4. Acooling unit according-to claim 1, in

which ice-tray shelves are supported by the ducts immediately adjacent the freezing space.

- space.

certain ducts connected betweentwo of said headers being spaced apart to enclose therebetween a freezing space and certain other ducts being located spaced from said freezing '6. A 'ation comprising, a plurality of headers and a plurality of ducts connecting the headers certain ducts connected between two of sai headers being spaced apart to enclose-therecooling unit for mechanical refrigerbetween a freezin .space and certaln other 'ductsbein locate spaced from said freezing space an ice-tray supports supported in said zing space. e v

7. A cooling unit for mechanical refri eration comprismg two headers, opposed not means each connected with both of said head ers and cooperating to provide a freezing ne therebetween, and duct means lying outwardly of the freezing zone and connected with one of said headers.

8. A 'coolin unit for mechanical refri eration comprising two headers, opposed not 7.

means connected with one ofsaid headers and cooperating to provide a freezmg zone there between, and opposed duct means lying-out Y -wardly of the freezing zone and connected with both of said headers, 9. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigeration comprising two headers, duct means connected with one of said headers, duct". means opposed to the first duct means and connected with both of said headers and 00- operatingwith the first duct means to provide a freezing zone and duct means'connect- 1o0 ed with both of said. headers and lying outwardly of the first duct'means I 10. A cooling unit for mechanical refrigeration comprisingtwooheaders duct means, connected with one of said h connected with both of said. headers and coeaders, duct i means opposed to thefirst duct means-and Y operating with the first duct means to pro- I 4 vide a freezing. zone, duct-means connected" connected with both of said headers and lying outwardlynof thefirst ductmeans.

11. A cooling unit for mechanical refriger Y ationcomprising twoheaders, ductmeansf lfi connected with one. of said, headers, ductmeans opposed to the first duct means Land" connected with-jboth of said headers and co'-.'

o'peratin with ,thefirst duct means to. pro- 1. vide a re'ezing fzone, o posed duct .meap mo connected with. both '0 vv said headers and lying outwardly of the freezing zone;

o In testimony whereof I hereto afiix mysig nature.

'- 5. A cooling unit for'mechanical refrigera- .tion'comprisinf, a'plurality of headers and a' ucts connecting the headers,

plurality of with one of said headers and lying outwardly "1m of the second ductomeans, and duct means 

